The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19

town, where she was treated kindly, but
kept prisoner.
What may be called the second act in
the life of Pokahontas then began; and
an event speedily occurred that seemed
to falsify the theory OF her love for Smith.
AS it was now the year 1913, she was
about eighteen years of age, and young
Englishman, John Rolfe, fell in love with
her. From letter that he addressed to
Sir Thomas Dale, the governor, asking
his advice, there can be no doubt that
Rolfe had conceived passionate attach
ment for her.
The letter is published in a rare
pamphlet Of the time, Hamor's present
Estate Of Virginia" and is very curious
production, coming from etaid and
discreet" person, the character attri-
buted to Rolfe. He represents himself
as prey to doubt and great trouble;
ought he to disregard the command to
the Israelites not to marry "strange
wives" or marry Pokahontas, and make
her Christian? He was unable to de-
eide on his duty, he said; but still more
interesting question is suggested to the
reader: Whether Pokahontas was at the
time prepared to marry Rolfe? If she
was prepared to do so, it seems reason
able to conclude that she had quite for
gotten Smith, or that the theory of her
81 b. l.
take.
AS events indicated before very long,
she was ready to marry Rolfe. Sir
Thomas Dale sailed up York river to re-
store her to Powhatan in exchange for
some English prisoners; but Pokahontas
clearly betrayed her indisposition to be
restored. She landed among her own
people, but treated them disdainfully,
scarcely taking any notice of them; and
when Powhatan did not come to meet
her, and made difficulties about the ex-
change Of prisoners, the young princess
tossed her head, and declared that she
would go back and live "with the English
men who loved her,
| Almost at the moment when she made
this declaration, friend OF Rolfe handed
| his letter to Sir Thomas Dale. He read
it, probably laughed heartily, and, at once
giving up his plan of laying waste the
Indian territory, took Pokahontas back
to jamestown, where she was soon after
wards married to Rolfe.
These are all the known facts thus far
in the life of Pokahontas, who proceeded
to live "civilly and lovingly" with her
husband, bore him a son, "whom she
| loved dearly" and, two or three years
afterward, accompanied Sir Thomas Dale
to England. On the face OF this array of
commonplace Incidents, there is nothing
to support the hypothesis of any attach
ment to Smith beyond mere friendship;
but soon after her arrival in England, a
single incident in addition again sup
ported the theory, and gave, indeed, a
very strong warranty for it.
As soon as the ship containing Polka
hontas, her husband and child reached
Plymouth, intelligence Of her arrival was
carried to London, and the event aroused
general interest. 1t was known that she
was princess, and the first Indian that
had married an Englishmap. There was
then mild sensation that soon grew very
strong
| Smith was the occasion of this. Hear
Of hn ~ Del he
wrote an eloquent and glowing letter to
the queen, described the scenes in which
she had preserved his life on two different
occasions, and declared that, during the
time of two or three years, she, next
under God, was still instrument to pre-
serve this colony from death, famine, and
utter confusion" The letter attracted
the attention of the court to Pokahontas,
who speedily became the fashion, and was
visited by the nobility near London; but
it was only when he was about to set sail
for New England that Smith, who was in
London, went to see her.
A brief account of what took place in
this interview remains, and seems to sup
port the original view of the feelings of
Pokahontas. At sight of Smith she Gov
cred her face with her hands, and for a
long time remained entirely silent. They
then conversed with each other in private,
and among other things she said: +" They
did tell me always you were dead, and I
knew no other till 1 came to Plymouth"
This statement leaves no doubt at least
OF one fact, that some person or persons
in Virginia, as far back as 1913, when she
was carried q prisoner to jamestown, had
informed her that Smith was dead. As
she remained under that conviction until
her arrival in England in 1916, she ac-
cepted the attentions of Rolfe, and mar
ried him believing Smith dead; and her
union with Rolfe, therefore, is reconcile
BILE with her previous attachment to the
soldier.
Their interview seems to have been
brief, and one of passionate feeling, full
of reproaches and tears on the part of
Pokahontas, and apparently of vague
embarrassment on the part of Smith. 1t
is pot difficult to understand why he
should have experienced some embarrass-
ment. There is nothing to indicate that
his attachment for her exceeded that of a
grateful friend. She had preserved his
life, and he sincerely admired her courage
and devotion. but that was all. His life